Back to school, part 2: Millage would address needs for buildings, technology and transportation

Taxpayers within boundaries of Centreville Public Schools will be asked in November whether to support a millage request that, if approved, would address the district’s buildings, technology and transportation needs.

Taxpayers within boundaries of Centreville Public Schools will be asked in November whether to support a millage request that, if approved, would address the district’s buildings, technology and transportation needs.

The Nov. 5 request, 2.95 mills over a 15-year period, would allow the 840-student district to upgrade its facilities, update technology infrastructure and begin a cycle of purchasing seven new buses over a 12-year period.

Whether to place the $12.8 million request before voters had been discussed by board members throughout the past year. The tipping point, however, came after the results of a months-long building assessment were revealed. Board of Education treasurer Rod Detweiler said the board has an obligation to ensure an environment conducive to education.

“It’s impossible to teach and learn effectively in a school where buckets are scattered all over the place trying to catch rainwater coming through the roof,” Detweiler said, citing roof problems at both school buildings as one example that prompted the board to bring the request forward. “Our students and staff deserve better.”

Detweiler and Superintendent Rob Kuhlman said the district-wide building analysis was conducted by architect and engineer firm Tower Pinkster.

Kuhlman said results of the analysis were eye-opening.

“The extent of our building needs came to around $16 million campus-wide,” he said.

Kuhlman and Detweiler concurred that the district knew asking taxpayers for that kind of money was too much.

“We pared it down to $10 million but added in the technology and busing upgrades, which brought the request to $12.8 million,” Detweiler added. “We’re at 4 mills right now; this would bump us to 6.95 mills, which would put us right about in the middle compared to other districts in the county.”

First request of millennium

The impending request will be the district’s first since 1999. The proposed increase would put taxpayers at a tax rate comparable to the 1999 amount, Kuhlman said.

The impact of an additional 2.95 mills on the owner of a home with a market value of $100,000 is about $148 annually.

A committee called “Our Kids First” has assembled, and will oversee four community meetings and promote the facts about the impending request.

The community meetings are set for Sept. 10 and 24, and Oct. 8 and 22 in the elementary school gymnasium.

The list of building improvements at both Centreville Elementary and the district’s jr./sr. high building is lengthy, but new roofs at both schools and its agricultural-education building are high priorities, Kuhlman and Detweiler said. Other upgrades include boiler replacements, secure entrances, ceiling and lighting replacement, new windows and a new technology infrastructure to replace one that is currently 10-years-old.

Improvement in stages

Page 2 of 2 - School officials are calling the roster of needs a “no-frills” list: it is primarily needs, not “wants.”

Approval of the request would allow the district to conduct the improvements in stages, starting with Phase 1 work of $4 million in 2014. The second phase would cover about $3.5 million and take place in 2017, while the final phase would include more than $5 million and occur in 2021.

The district’s nine-bus fleet includes five vehicles purchased in the 1990s and each of those five has accumulated in excess of 100,000 miles. Its newest bus was purchased in 2010 and has an odometer reading of 45,900.

As part of the phase-in process, new buses would be purchased in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025.

District officials said building improvements would allow for new mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems to operate at current energy-efficiency standards. In addition, replacement of windows and lighting will improve the energy standard of the district’s facilities, Kuhlman said.

“The district’s last two millage requests were approximately 15 years apart, so our timing now is consistent,” Kuhlman said. “The board and I felt this request is a matter of Centreville Public Schools staying competitive and meeting the needs of our students.”

Urged to learn details

Detweiler, meanwhile, said “Our Kids First” campaign members hope people who have questions about the request learn as much detail as possible. A thorough explanation of the millage request is available at www.cpschools.org.

“We have public forums in place, so with all the information that’s out there, we feel we can address any concerns,” Detweiler said.

Kuhlman said he hopes the public makes an educated vote.

“We’re excited about giving the community the opportunity to show support for our kids and schools,” he said.

As of Tuesday, there were 3,358 registered voters in the Centreville Public Schools district. The last date to register for the November vote is Oct. 7.